Inside the media room.

Iger had just finished watching the documentary Book of Gospel at eight times speed.

"The Chosen... huh..." he muttered, scribbling the phrase in his notebook and circling it heavily.

The documentary was made just eight years ago, in year 1680. Setting aside the usual tendencies of social science documentaries to grandstand, pander to audiences, and prioritize spectacle over substance, this one could be an important reference for Iger as he settled into the nation.

It was packed with information, including the millennia-old Salome company responsible for manufacturing Gospel props; the division of cities into ethnic districts and multiethnic neighborhoods; the kingdom's thirty-year plan to build multi-layered cities to deepen urbanization; entirely free education, including specialized sorcery academies with food and accommodation provided; and the growth of higher education institutions from 89 to 135 over a century, with enrollment steadily rising year by year.

Judging by the dense notes he had taken, it was clear Iger envied the kingdom's education system. He wanted to believe that free education was a gimmick, but the documentary kept proving otherwise. While he struggled under student loans, worked in mud cafés, and gritted his teeth to finish his studies, there existed a whole population of lucky bastards enjoying a worry-free university life.

Even at eight times speed, the documentary took him nearly half an hour to finish. The more he watched, the more acutely he felt the misery of his own life. It hurt so much he could barely breathe, forcing him to pause and recover.

Jealousy came easily to him. Seeing others happy made his stomach churn. Sometimes, even Ashe's cheerful, foolish smiles were enough to make his eyes sting.

Yet even in a documentary meant to celebrate the kingdom, Iger noticed unusual details.

Firstly, the Gospel Kingdom had no established churches. Everyone knew the Gospel was a gift from the Omniscient Weaver, and that was all there was to it. No one promoted its teachings, built statues, or formed cult-like organizations such as "Omniscient Weaver study groups." According to the Book of Gospel, any churches that did exist were unauthorized and amateur operations.

It made sense. A church was essentially founded on the idea that "the deity is lazy, so they appoint a representative to shepherd the followers." That was not the case with the Omniscient Weaver. With enough points, the Book of Gospel would respond directly to its owner, 24/7. Its service was immediate, leaving no room for churches to survive as middlemen.

Secondly, despite the absence of churches, the kingdom still had an imperial family.

Iger had seen monarchies in other countries during his time in the Blood Moon Kingdom, so he wasn't surprised. But the Gospel Kingdom was far too prosperous. He couldn't understand why it still operated under a monarchy rather than a democratic system. Even vampires knew not to act like dictators!

Currently, the Isa imperial family had ruled for 760 years. Over time, they gradually consolidated power, controlling the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. The multi-layered city strategy, for example, was issued as a royal decree. Royal appointees commanded the kingdom's forces, including the Red Hats who maintained order and the Bluebeards who suppressed the Abyss. All state policies were issued from the imperial capital, Nabestin. In short, the royal family controlled both the military and the government.

Normally, a monarchy like this would create a massive bureaucracy, oppress the people, and eventually collapse from within. That was exactly what had happened with the imperial families before the Isa. The Isa family, however, had somehow broken the cycle. Not only had they endured for over seven centuries, but the kingdom had also grown at breakneck speed, completely eclipsing the Blood Moon's democratic system. Iger even began to wonder if monarchy might actually be the only viable path for a nation of sorcerers.

Thirdly, though individuals in the Gospel Kingdom pursued different goals, they all ultimately aimed for the same thing, which was to climb the rankings and become a Chosen.

The term Chosen appeared constantly throughout the documentary. Only the Chosen could develop new technologies, lead the era, or even achieve happiness. Like the Blood Moon's Blood Saint and Moonshadow, the Chosen were the elite of the kingdom. But unlike the god-supported nobles of the Blood Moon, the Chosen were recognized and respected by ordinary people.

The only requirement to become a Chosen was to appear on any ranking, even for something as minor as a regional skill, like Chinese Knots[1]. Yet despite this apparent simplicity, the path remained extremely difficult. Without sufficient talent and effort, there was no chance at all. Even if everything was done correctly, if many geniuses emerged in the same era, cracking the top ten could still be impossible, unless one put in even greater effort.

Iger's thoughts shifted. He finally realized why the documentary felt so familiar. Despite the vitality of the people, the harmony between ethnic groups, and the thriving society, he hadn't seen a single genuine smile that made him envious. Every person in the documentary, every sentence, seemed to carry the same message: Be the best. Be the strongest. Surpass your peers. Be number one in your field.

Those who hadn't made it onto the rankings pushed themselves relentlessly to catch up, while those already listed didn't dare slack off, fearful of losing their advantage. Society moved like an infinite gear, with everyone accelerating of their own accord. There was no need to worry about taking the wrong path. With just a few points, the Book of Gospel would always point the way forward.

The social atmosphere was worlds apart from the Blood Moon Kingdom, yet Iger couldn't shake a strange sense of familiarity. It was like a fly discovering feces hidden inside a cake. Interesting...

Determined to get a full picture of the Gospel Kingdom, Iger planned to watch a few more documentaries. He left the media room to grab some food and drink, preparing for a long session.

As he passed by the media entertainment room, muffled, frustrated muttering reached his ears. Peeking through the crack of the door, he saw Lys sitting on the floor with a large box of building blocks spread before her. She seemed to be carefully assembling something.

Is that little drama queen... playing with blocks?

After only two days, Iger had already seen through Lys's "cute on the outside, scheming on the inside" nature. He was certain they were the same type of person. She reminded him of his younger self. Sweet and innocent in appearance, he had earned adults' trust while quietly judging them in his mind. People like them were never satisfied with simple toys. After experiencing the thrill of manipulating others, ordinary playthings would have become pointless to them. They didn't get angry, showed no warmth, and didn't speak... what value was there in playing with them?

What is she doing? Is there some secret hidden in these blocks related to Annan? Or is she just waiting for someone to show up?

Iger crouched behind the door and watched as Lys carefully examined each piece, assembling the ones that fit. Minutes ticked by. One, three, and then ten...

After fifteen minutes, he could no longer hold back. Stepping inside, he pointed at the mess. "The instructions are right next to you! Can't you follow them? This is supposed to be a castle set, not a dungeon!"

Lys pouted silently but dragged the manual toward her nonetheless.

Iger clenched his fists, his face burning with anger. "You rude little brat... I guess I'll have to teach you a lesson..."

Meanwhile, Ashe, exhausted from virtual games, headed to the kitchen for snacks and drinks. Passing the media entertainment room, he overheard the argument.

"This piece clearly goes here! Look at the instructions! Do you even know how to play? I've never seen a more useless brat than you! Why did you choose such a massive castle? This is way too big for just two people! You're so annoying!"

Peeking through the door crack, Ashe glanced at the incomplete castle foundation. Thoughtful, he walked away and soon returned with Pankey and Harvey.

1. Chinese Knots is a traditional hand game in which players use a loop of string to create patterns, shapes, or "figures" with their fingers. In this context, the game is just one example of a local, minor skill that can earn someone a spot on a ranking, illustrating how low the minimum bar is. By "local" or a regional skill, we mean a talent or ability recognized within a specific area or community ☜